Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c10.s3.t12.29

v2.c10.s3.t12.29

**17. Garuda Purana** has about 19,000 verses, consists of three parts: (1) *Karma* introduces medicine, worship, law, astronomy and geography; (2) *Dhamm* describes life and death, karma, liberation and funeral rites; (3) Brahmam tells the supremacy and sacred places of Vishnu. But, some editions directly divide the book into 18 chapters. Chapters 1-4 describe horrors of hell and evils leading to hell. Chapter 5 explains the supremacy of Vishnu and the meaning of following the dharma.